Post by Chrisnstar on Jan 4, 2005 17:43:55 GMT -5
This is cross posted from the endurance list. Reid Ridgeway is the son of Kerry Ridgeway, a nationally known veterinarian who writes for horse mags and vets endurance rides.
will give you a quick rundown of our efforts thus far, and our idea on being effective. The first day after we were shell shocked and I'm afraid a bit aimless in our shock. I took my camera down to Patong and was so moved that I came back and called Marco and we began our plan. I sent the letter you received out, and the next morning, I organized the
rental of a car and packed it full of clothing, water, and food. My dive gear and a medicine bag. I was told that divers were in need to find bodies in the underground level portions of buildings and pools of resorts. We went to Koh Lak, where I have so many friends, and where the dive company I work for has it's main office. We had heard few survived there. And when we got there, my heart nearly jumped from my body as we surveyed the scene. The building did not look like anyone could have been on the lower floor and survived. And the bungalows that housed the staff weren't there anymore. 300 or more bodies were rotting in the sun, many uncovered. There was damage almost 1 km inshore and these building were only 100 meters from the sea. I got a text message on my phone from the shop manager at that time. Most phone service was impossible, but his SMS got through and it simply said "ok". I began to cry wondering how they could possibly have made it out. I will hear their stories tonight. We drove on to check on Marco's many friends in the towns above and eventually made it to Takua Pa. We interviewed some of the people in charge of the Forensics unit and asked what was needed. We were being asked my many survivors to photograph rings, jewelry, cell phones, and pictures and relatives in the hope of matching personal belongs with the dead. We stayed most of the day there help by using our cameras to document the more than 1500 bodies there. There were 1100 a mile up in another operation. And we had seen 300 bodies in Kho Lak and many, many places where no one had looked but smelled of massive death. We got an opportunity to question the deputy prime minister of Thailand why the government was lying and completely downplaying the numbers of the dead. We explained that Foreign people would never forgive Thailand for lying and that the plan to save the tourism industry by deceiving people would backfire. We had a lot of support from a woman doctor who is a forensics expert and a TV personality in Thailand. We told them it was preventing the aid and resources from arriving in time to help people find their loved ones. The next day the official numbers had tripled in all the media.
The following day we spent half a day there doing the same and then felt we could not remain there any longer because the emotions and grief was overwhelming and we wanted to continue our documentation and get it back to the people who could help us if they saw the pictures, and still had not toured the place where Marco's friends were. We armed
ourself with information on the scope of things and the relief effort and continued back to Baan Sak Beach. There we found that not one person had survived and all the beach front restaurants and homes were completely overwhelmed and only cement foundations cracked in half remained. It was a place Marco had sat with these people and eaten their food and it was very very hard to fathom. We went back through Koh Lak and filmed the situation there. We assisted at the Sofitel Magic Lagoon and Spa Resort. A place that was the scene of epic tragedy and death. We witnessed the removal of 8 bodies and found a ninth one covered in debris next to our vehicle. We came home exhausted and traumatized but determined to help.
Marco is on Phi Phi island today with a supply boat, I am hosting a dinner for the staff of Andaman Scuba tonight. All of them are my friends and co workers. All have lost everything first from the terrible force of the waves and then from the terrible people who looted the area. They were all in the very worst hit area and all have their only their stories and their lives. The company sustained huge damage to one of the live aboard boats and the other live aboard dive boat is 200 meters inshore, but possibly still recoverable. The shop is still standing but there is no money to repair it and it is unclear whether Koh Lak will ever be a viable town again. None have jobs, homes, money, id, or anything. Thus far the money I have received is only enough for the immediate question of food and shelter. The company has one office here in Phuket and people are sleeping on the floor, but it is only a temporary solution. I have been up for days and trying to get out the message and communicate with the people who have doubts and questions like yourself. It is hard because while have no illusions about it's necessity and understand why, it's still frustrating spend so much time with individual questions and responses. But I suppose that it's my best use of time if I can garner the trust and the response of people to our effort. Still the effort itself is what people are interested in, and not the talking about it. I have to divide my time between fund raising and being on active duty. I need two of me.
We hoped to have the resources to help many. We have only spent money on giving food and water so far. Our travel and expenses have been from our own pockets. While the big organizations are finally starting to show up here, there was a problem in the critical beginning and we were very much alone here. There are so many needs and food and water
were needed badly. The large organizations have now started providing for shelter and food and water. But where we feel the problem lies now is in economic survival, repair, and rebuilding of lives. From having been in Thailand quite a while, the disturbing element is who will control the money given to the Thai people for rebuilding. The government here is absolutely untrustworthy with moneyand corruption is far more than common. The small people will get nothing, and the friends and families of the government will get wealthier and use the money for opportunistic plunder of the misfortunate. We feel that the larger organizations will in no way have the ability to track the application of their funding or warrant that it went to those who lost everything. What we have to offer our contributors, is that 100% actually gets to someone who needs their help and is not likely to
receive anything from Red Cross, Network for Good, Unicef, or the others, save for some immediate shelter, food, and water. But that will not be enough to sustain them or help them become self sustaining again.
We would like to raise enough to support a construction team in the repair of homes, boats, and lively hoods. Thai labor is one of the best values, and construction and building is far more simple, inexpensive, and expedient than in America. Although we haven't made a decision yet, I would like very much to help the people I am hosting tonight, but we have so little to work with at this time, that I will wait until we see what comes in in the next few days. Members of the company are hard working and talented and could help repair the company building and boats, but they need money to live while they rebuild. The concept of insurance is very uncommon here and like most Thai companies there will be no such thing in this case.
There are many promises to help us, and many considering donations, but it takes time for people to think it over. We feel that we can be of great help, and make the money stretch further by employing displaced workers to help themselves and others to rebuild. We will also be talking with the Thai community and identifying the ones doing something great and positive and possibly join forces or provide money for their efforts. Additionally we are trying to get businesses to give wholesale pricing on goods and supplies since they are going to the relief effort. There's a great deal to do here.
Best Regards
Reid Ridgway
will give you a quick rundown of our efforts thus far, and our idea on being effective. The first day after we were shell shocked and I'm afraid a bit aimless in our shock. I took my camera down to Patong and was so moved that I came back and called Marco and we began our plan. I sent the letter you received out, and the next morning, I organized the
rental of a car and packed it full of clothing, water, and food. My dive gear and a medicine bag. I was told that divers were in need to find bodies in the underground level portions of buildings and pools of resorts. We went to Koh Lak, where I have so many friends, and where the dive company I work for has it's main office. We had heard few survived there. And when we got there, my heart nearly jumped from my body as we surveyed the scene. The building did not look like anyone could have been on the lower floor and survived. And the bungalows that housed the staff weren't there anymore. 300 or more bodies were rotting in the sun, many uncovered. There was damage almost 1 km inshore and these building were only 100 meters from the sea. I got a text message on my phone from the shop manager at that time. Most phone service was impossible, but his SMS got through and it simply said "ok". I began to cry wondering how they could possibly have made it out. I will hear their stories tonight. We drove on to check on Marco's many friends in the towns above and eventually made it to Takua Pa. We interviewed some of the people in charge of the Forensics unit and asked what was needed. We were being asked my many survivors to photograph rings, jewelry, cell phones, and pictures and relatives in the hope of matching personal belongs with the dead. We stayed most of the day there help by using our cameras to document the more than 1500 bodies there. There were 1100 a mile up in another operation. And we had seen 300 bodies in Kho Lak and many, many places where no one had looked but smelled of massive death. We got an opportunity to question the deputy prime minister of Thailand why the government was lying and completely downplaying the numbers of the dead. We explained that Foreign people would never forgive Thailand for lying and that the plan to save the tourism industry by deceiving people would backfire. We had a lot of support from a woman doctor who is a forensics expert and a TV personality in Thailand. We told them it was preventing the aid and resources from arriving in time to help people find their loved ones. The next day the official numbers had tripled in all the media.
The following day we spent half a day there doing the same and then felt we could not remain there any longer because the emotions and grief was overwhelming and we wanted to continue our documentation and get it back to the people who could help us if they saw the pictures, and still had not toured the place where Marco's friends were. We armed
ourself with information on the scope of things and the relief effort and continued back to Baan Sak Beach. There we found that not one person had survived and all the beach front restaurants and homes were completely overwhelmed and only cement foundations cracked in half remained. It was a place Marco had sat with these people and eaten their food and it was very very hard to fathom. We went back through Koh Lak and filmed the situation there. We assisted at the Sofitel Magic Lagoon and Spa Resort. A place that was the scene of epic tragedy and death. We witnessed the removal of 8 bodies and found a ninth one covered in debris next to our vehicle. We came home exhausted and traumatized but determined to help.
Marco is on Phi Phi island today with a supply boat, I am hosting a dinner for the staff of Andaman Scuba tonight. All of them are my friends and co workers. All have lost everything first from the terrible force of the waves and then from the terrible people who looted the area. They were all in the very worst hit area and all have their only their stories and their lives. The company sustained huge damage to one of the live aboard boats and the other live aboard dive boat is 200 meters inshore, but possibly still recoverable. The shop is still standing but there is no money to repair it and it is unclear whether Koh Lak will ever be a viable town again. None have jobs, homes, money, id, or anything. Thus far the money I have received is only enough for the immediate question of food and shelter. The company has one office here in Phuket and people are sleeping on the floor, but it is only a temporary solution. I have been up for days and trying to get out the message and communicate with the people who have doubts and questions like yourself. It is hard because while have no illusions about it's necessity and understand why, it's still frustrating spend so much time with individual questions and responses. But I suppose that it's my best use of time if I can garner the trust and the response of people to our effort. Still the effort itself is what people are interested in, and not the talking about it. I have to divide my time between fund raising and being on active duty. I need two of me.
We hoped to have the resources to help many. We have only spent money on giving food and water so far. Our travel and expenses have been from our own pockets. While the big organizations are finally starting to show up here, there was a problem in the critical beginning and we were very much alone here. There are so many needs and food and water
were needed badly. The large organizations have now started providing for shelter and food and water. But where we feel the problem lies now is in economic survival, repair, and rebuilding of lives. From having been in Thailand quite a while, the disturbing element is who will control the money given to the Thai people for rebuilding. The government here is absolutely untrustworthy with moneyand corruption is far more than common. The small people will get nothing, and the friends and families of the government will get wealthier and use the money for opportunistic plunder of the misfortunate. We feel that the larger organizations will in no way have the ability to track the application of their funding or warrant that it went to those who lost everything. What we have to offer our contributors, is that 100% actually gets to someone who needs their help and is not likely to
receive anything from Red Cross, Network for Good, Unicef, or the others, save for some immediate shelter, food, and water. But that will not be enough to sustain them or help them become self sustaining again.
We would like to raise enough to support a construction team in the repair of homes, boats, and lively hoods. Thai labor is one of the best values, and construction and building is far more simple, inexpensive, and expedient than in America. Although we haven't made a decision yet, I would like very much to help the people I am hosting tonight, but we have so little to work with at this time, that I will wait until we see what comes in in the next few days. Members of the company are hard working and talented and could help repair the company building and boats, but they need money to live while they rebuild. The concept of insurance is very uncommon here and like most Thai companies there will be no such thing in this case.
There are many promises to help us, and many considering donations, but it takes time for people to think it over. We feel that we can be of great help, and make the money stretch further by employing displaced workers to help themselves and others to rebuild. We will also be talking with the Thai community and identifying the ones doing something great and positive and possibly join forces or provide money for their efforts. Additionally we are trying to get businesses to give wholesale pricing on goods and supplies since they are going to the relief effort. There's a great deal to do here.
Best Regards
Reid Ridgway
